Driving mechanism for washing-machines.



F.1- COUCH & J. F. WALLACE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACH|NES.'

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 21. I914.

Patented May 9, 1916.

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$3 TQHA. N w y 3. t /1 Ma WW y W FHJ, COUCH & J. F. WALLACE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

'APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 19M.

Patnted May 9, 1916.

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. 6 6 6 3 7 f Z 6 1 .0 6 X 1 4 M H 1 3 Asa Illl 6 V Z 71 5 w 2 7 I- a 1-- w 3 a! 1 0% j 8 2 Z w 5 W zw mm FORREST J. COUCH AND JAMES F. WALLACE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

DRIVING: MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 191%.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Fonnnsr J. Conan and JAMES F. WALLACE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Driving Mechanism for Washin -Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of combined washing and wringing machines used in home laundries, and more particularly to the operating mechanism thereof, such machines bein driven by suitable means, as an electric motor, and comprising a clothes container-consisting of a cylinder vrotatably mounted within the outer casing or. body of the machine and a wringer supported on the body. In machines of the class described the clothes cylinder, when in operation, is revolved either constantly in one direction, or, alternately, for a predetermined number of times in one direction and then in the other, the wringer being reversible in operation to wring the clothes both into and out of the machine; and it is the object of this invention to accomplish the above mentioned results in the most satisfactory manner, that is,by means of =inechanism simple in construction, of few parts, easy of control, and positive in operation. We attain these objects by mechanism such as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of a washing machine with a wringer attached, parts of the frame work and operating mechanism being broken away to more clearly bring out features of construction; Fig. 2, a view from the right, with respect to Fig. 1, of the side of the machine toward the observer in Fig. 1 and showing the motor and shaft supporting brackets, the operating mechanism being removed; Fig. 3, an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the hollow shaft and mechanism carried thereby, the inner shafts being shown in full, such section being in a plane parallel with the side of the machine toward the observer in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a sectional detail, to be explained, of the clutch mechanism; Fig. 5, an enlarged view of the upper inner shaft and the upper end of the lower inner shaft with the inclosing hollow shaft shown in longitudinal central section, such section being at right angles to the plane of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6, a central sectional View, lengthwise, of the cam controlled lever and showing parts cooperating therewith.

The machine, proper, comprises a frame work of any preferred construction supported by legs or standards 1, such frame supporting a water-tight outer casing or body 2 within which there is rotatably and removably mounted on -bearings 3 a clothes cylinder or drum l. This cylinder 4 may be of any preferred construction but having suitable openings in the periphery thereof to allow the admission of air and water and having, also, a section, not shown, of the periphery removable so that clothes may be placed within and removed from the cylinder. The body 2 is filled with water to the proper depth and is emptied through the drain pipe 5 located in the bottom thereof.

Between that side of the body 2 toward the observer in Fig. 1 and the adjacent cylinder head there is a spur gear 6 secured to the cylinder shaft 7, such gear meshing with a spur gear 8 of about one half the pitch diameter of thegear 6 and secured on the short shaft 9 rotatably supported in the upper right hand corner of the machine, with respect to Fig. 1.

At 10 and 11 are seen upper and lower side frame pieces connecting two of the standards 1. A bracket 12 is secured by screws to the connecting frame piece 10 and a plate member 13 is similarly securedto the connecting frame piece 11, the bracket 12 having formed integrally therewith a bearing 14 and the member 13 having formed integrally therewith bearings 15 and 16, all of such bearings being alined to receive and revolubly support the obliquely disposed hollow shaft 17. An electric motor 18 for driving the operating mechanism is supported on a bracket 19 extending inwardly under the body 2 of the machine and secured to the connecting frame piece 11, the shaft 20 of such motor having a universal connection 21 witha short shaft 22 revoluble in bearings carried by arearward extension 23 from the member 13 and having secured thereon the worm 24. This worm meshes with a worm wheel 25 secured on the hollow shaft 17 just above and adjacent to the bearing 15. j The hollow shaft 17 also has secured thereon, between the bearings 15 and 16, a worm 26"- which drives a worm wheel 27 mounted on a stud 28 carried by and extending outwardly from the member 13, such worm wheel having integrally formed on the outer side thereof the cam 29 of the conformation shown in Fig. 1.

The plate member 13 has a stud 30 extending outwardly therefrom on which there is pivotally supported one end of the lever 31, such lever being provided with an upward extension 32 at about its center, longitudinally, in the end of which is a pin having a roller for engaging between the side walls of the cam 29, the outer end of the lever being widened and slotted inwardly at its center to receive the lever 33 extendin outwardly from a collar 34, such collar he d in'a'yielding position of longitudinal adjustment on the lower end of the inner shaft 35 between coil springs 36 encircling such shaft and the collars 37. A plate 38 is secured to the connecting piece 11 and has a curved outward extension, similar to the widened outer end of the lever 31, provided with a centrally disposed inwardly extending slot directly opposite the similar slot in the lever 31 when such lever is in its neutral position, as will be explained, and'adapted to receive the lever 33. Springs 39 and 40 are fastened to the lever 31 and the member 38, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, and are adapted to hold the lever 33 against accidental removal from the slot in the lever 31 or that in the member 38.

The shaft 35 extends upward through the hollow shaft 17 for the greater part of the length of such shaft and is splined thereto by means-of the key 41' carried by the upper end of the inner shaft and engaging through oppositely disposed slots 42 in the hollow shaft. This key 41 is adapted to occupy a neutral position or to clutch either the bevel gear 43 or 44 by engaging within the cut out portions of the inwardly extending hubs thereof, see Figs. 3 and 4, accordingly as the inner shaft is raised or lowered, such gears 43 and 44 facing each other and being loose on the hollow shaft 17. These gears 43 and 44 are spaced apart by a section of tubing 45 inclosing the inwardly extending hubs thereof, theyare held in proper posi tion, longitudinally, on the shaft 17 between the bearing 14 and the adjustable collar 46, and meshwith a similar bevel gear 47 secured on the outer end of the short shaft 9, on the other end of which is the spur gear 8 meshing with the cylinder gear 6 as before mentioned.

The gear 47 will be driven by the gear 43 or 44 accordingly as the inner shaft 35 is raised or lowered, this being done by the lever 31, when the lever 33 engages in the slot in the outer end thereof, the lever 31 being actuated by the cam 29 on the worm wheel 27 which latter is driven by the worm 26 on the hollow shaft 17, such shaft being driven constantly in one direction through the worm 24 and worm wheel 25 from the motor 18.

In the upper end of the hollow shaft 17 are two oppositely disposed slots 48 through which engage a key 49 similar to the key 41 and carried in the lower end of a short shaft 50 extending longitudinally into'the hollow shaft 17 from the upper end. 'ThlS key may occupy a neutral position or, when the shaft 50 is raised and lowered, will clutch the bevel gear 51 or 52, respectively,

by engaging within the cut out portions of the inwardly extending hubs thereof, such gears 51 and 52 facing each other and being loose on the hollow shaft 17. These gears 51 and 52 are spaced apart by a section of tubing 53 inclosing the inwardly extending hubs thereof, they are held in proper longitudinal position on the shaft 17 between the bearing 14 and collar 54, and mesh with a similar bevel gear 55 secured on the outer end of the shaft 60 on which is the lower roll 63 of the wringer 62, such shaft being supported at its outer end in a bearing formed on an upwardly extending arm 61 from the bracket 12.

The shaft 50 is raised and lowered by against the shaft by the coil spring 58 the.

tension on which is regulated by the threaded plug 59.

The wringer 62 is of the usual type having the rollers 63 and 64 provided at their ends with intermeshing spur gears indicated in dotted lines, in Fig. 2, within the casing 65. The wringer is supported on the frame of the machine, at the rear, and is held in position by means of the usual clamps 66. Y

The operation of the machine is as follows :The body 2' is filled to the required depth with water, the clothes to be washed are placed in the cylinder 4 and the current to the motor 18 turned on. The hollow shaft 17 will be driven from the motor 18 through the worm 24 and worm wheel 25 in the direction of the arrow 0, Fig. 1, and the worm 26 on the shaft 17 will drive the Worm wheel 27 which carries with it the cam 29. Rotation of this cam 29 will actuate the lever 31 which, when the lever 33 on the collar 34 engages in the slot in the outer end'of thelever 31, see Figs. 1, 3 and-6, will alternately raise and lower the inner shaft 35 causing the key 41 to clutch, first, the

gear 43 then the gear 44. When thegear of the arrow a, and when the gear 44 is similarly driven the cylinder will revolve in the direction of the arrow 6.

The ratio of the gearing is such that there will be twenty revolutions of the cylinder 4 to one of the worm wheel 27, and the conformation of the cam 29 on this wheel is such that the clutch mechanism, just above described, will be actuated so that the cylinder 4 will make five consecutive revolu tions, approximately, in one direction then an equal number of revolutions in the other direction, the cylinder gradually stopping before changing its direction of rotation. It will readily be understood that a cam of different conformation may be used, the particular conformation thereof determiningthe number of consecutive revolutions, in each direction, of-the cylinder 4.

When the cylinder 4 has been operated for a proper length of time it is brought to a stop by throwing the lever 33, by hand or by foot, into the Slot therefor in the member 38 which member holds the inner shaft with the key 41 in its neutral position, the lever 31 being free to move without raising or lowering the shaft 35.

The cooperation of the key 49 with gears 51 and 52 is the same as that described in reference to the key 41 and gears 43 and 44,

p and the wringer shaft 60 is driven in one direction or the other accordingly as the inner shaft 50is raised or lowered by hand from its neutral position, as seen in Fig. 5.

It is believed from the foregoing that the construction and operation of our machine is sufficiently clear to call for no further explanation herein. It might be stated, howe'ver, that the operating mechanism will be protected by suitable casings.

What we claim is:

1. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of a revoluble element, a hollow shaft and means for driving the same, two bevel gears loosely mounted on said shaft, .a shaft splined to and longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft, a clutch carried by said inner shaft adapted to engage either of said gears, means for automatically moving said inner shaft in either direction to cause the operation of said clutch, a third bevel gear intermediate and meshing with both said first named gears, said third gear being driven in one direction or the other accordingly as one or the other of said first named gears is engaged by said clutch, and means intermediate said third gear and'said revoluble element for rotating such element from said gear.

2. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of a hollow shaft, means for driving said shaft, a shaft splined to and longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft, a cam, means for rotating the learn, and a lever actuated by said cam for longitudinally moving said inner shaft, all for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of a hollow shaft, means for driving said shaft, a shaft longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft, a cam, means on the hollow shaft for rotating the cam, and a lever actuated by said cam for longitudinally moving said inner shaft, all for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of a hollow shaft, means for driving said shaft, a shaft longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft, a cam, means on said hollow shaft for rotating the cam, a lever rotatably mounted on said inner shaft, a lever actuated by said cam and adapted to releasably engage said first named lever to longitudinally move said inner shaft, and means adapted to releasably engage said first named lever to hold said inner shaft against longitudinal movement during actuation of said cam controlled lever, all for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of a hollow shaft, means for driving said shaft, a shaft longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft, a cam, means on said hollow shaft for rotating the cam, a clutch carried by said inner shaft, a lever rotatable on and held in a yielding position of longitudinal adjustment on said inner shaft, a lever actuated by said cam and adapted to releasably engage said first named lever to longitudinally move said inner shaft, and means adapted to releasably engage said first named lever to hold said inner shaft against longitudinal movement, with the clutch carried thereby in its neutral position, during actuation of said cam controlled lever, all for the purpose specified.

(3. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of a revoluble element, a shaft and means for driving the same, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft, a clutch revoluble with and movable longitudinally of said shaft a cam, a lever actuated by said cam, means for rotating said cam, a connection releasably engaged by said lever and actuated thereby for causing the operation of said clutch, means for releasably holding said connecting means out of engagement with said actuating lever and with said clutch in inoperative position, and means intermediate said gear and said revoluble element for rotating such element from said gear.

7. The combination in a machine of the class described, of a revoluble element, a shaft and means for driving the same, two

1 bevel gears loosely mounted-on said shaft, a

clutch revoluble with andmovable longituated by said cam, ineans on the shaft for rotating said cam, a connection releasably engaged'by said lever and actuated thereby for moving said clutch intoiengagement with either of said gears, means for releasably holding said connecting means out of engagement with said actuating lever and with said clutch in neutral position, a third bevel gear at right angles to and meshing with said first named gears, suchgear being driven in one direction or the other accordingly as one or' the other of said first named gears is engaged by said clutch, and means intermediate said third gear and said revolubl'e element for rotating such element from said gear. 1

8. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of a revoluble element, a hollow shaft and means for driving the same, two bevel gears loosely mounted-on said shaft, a shaft splined to and longitudi-.

engage said first named lever to hold said inner shaft against lon itudinal movement,

with the clutch carrie thereby inneutral position, during actuation of said cam controlled lever, a third bevel gear at right angles to andmeshing with said first named gears, such gear being driven in one direction or the other accordingly as one or the other of said first named gears is engaged by said clutch, and means intermediate said third gear and said revoluble element for rotating such element from said gear.

9. The combination, 111 a machine of the class described, of a revoluble element, a

hollow shaft and means for driving the same, a gear loosely mounted on said-shaft,

a shaft splined to and longitudinally m0,v-- 1 ment, with the clutch carried thereby in inoperative position, during actuation of said cam controlled lever, and means intermediate said gear and said revoluble ele-' ment for rotating such element from said gear.

10. The combination, in .a machine of the class described, of a revoluble element, a hollow shaft and means for driving the same, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft, a shaft splined to and longitudinally movable in said hollow shaft, a clutch carried by said inner shaftadapted to'engage said gear, a cam, means on said hollow shaft for rotatin the cam, a lever'rotatably mounted on said inner shaft, a lever actuated by said cam and adapted to releasably engage said first named lever to move said inner shaft to cause the operation of said clutch, means adapted to releasably engage said first named lever to hold said inner shaft against longitudinal movement, with the clutch carried thereby in inoperative position, during actuation of said cam controlled" lever, and means intermediate said gear and said revoluble element for rotating such element from said gear.

' FORREST J. COUCH.

JAMES F. WALLACE Witnesses: I

PAUL N. WrrHINo'roN, ELSIE L. MCDONALD. 

